Estimated Billings: Electricity Consumers Vow to Resist Tariff Hike

Electricity consumers across the country have raised the alarm over continued estimated billing by the Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), notwithstanding that the system had since been outlawed by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC).

They therefore vowed to resist further increase in electricity tariff, except they are provided with prepaid meters.

An investigation carried out by THISDAY at the weekend revealed that the current charge  for each  private resident (flat) in Lagos is N5,535.40. Further investigations showed that most consumers who live in private residential buildings and who use the old type of meters are giving uniform bills, an indication that the PHCN still issues electricity charges at estimated rates.

Some of the customers who craved anonymity blamed the situation on the non-availability of functional meters. Others however posited that where the functional meters are available, PHCN workers do not read them, but chose to issue estimated bills to extort customers.

The situation is applicable to consumers in the Northern, southern and Eastern parts of the country, as checks by THISDAY revealed that more than 80 percent of electricity consumers still use the old type of meters, despite the claims by the PHCN that most customers have been provided with prepaid meters.

Some of the consumers in Lagos and Imo States  alleged that the PHCN might have suspended the issuance of prepaid meters because consumers who use prepaid meters conserve energy and do not incur high bills.
Others argued that an average Nigerian using the old meter is paying far above the cost of electricity even with the increase in tariff, noting that government should stamp out the old metering system and ensure that prepaid meters are available to consumers across the country.

They said: “If government is sincere about the issue of estimated billing system, what it should do is to issue a deadline on the use of old meters and mandate the Ministry of Power to and NERC to ensure that prepaid meters are supplied to consumers.

In Lagos, some of the consumers  vowed to reject any further increase in tariff, except the Power Ministry provides them with prepaid metres before the hike.

They argued that where prepaid meters are available” consumers would not complain about the increase in tariff because they would be paying what they consuming”.

However some other consumers in their responses to inquiries by THISDAY expressed similar views on the issue and blamed on the inability the NERC to effectively regulate the electricity industry.

“How can an electricity industry regulator outlaw estimated billing since the past than six years or more and the PHCN still flouts such directive. What this means is that NERC is just a toothless bulldog”.

Minister of Power, Prof Bart Nnaji  had at a recent media chat declared that estimated billing system  for electricity, remained illegal and unacceptable.

He however noted that the issue could only be properly addressed if electricity users were provided with functional meters.
The minister who frowned on the issue said efforts were being made to ensure that prepaid meters get to electricity users across the country. According to him, the chief executive officers of various distribution companies had been tasked on the need to provide customers with prepaid meters.

He pointed out that efficient billing system could only be achieved if functional metering system was provided.

“We are addressing the issue of estimated billing. It is not right. But this is something that has to do with metering. So the CEOs of the distribution companies are working to ensure meters are available”, he said.  Despite the disconnection procedures for electricity services provided for by the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), the agency that regulates the electricity industry, PHCN officials till date charge meter maintenance fees and also carry out unlawful disconnection of power supply to users. The estimated billing system was outlawed in 2007 by the agency.

One Comment

1. 

   Anonymous

   February 21, 2012 at 8:47 am

   GIVE ME LIGHT 2 HOURS .

   I HAVE YOUR 2 HOURS BILL.

   ITS FAIR ENOUGH.

   NO MORE NO LESS.